I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)

For songs with a similar title, see I Can't Stop Loving You (disambiguation).

"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)" is a song written by singer-songwriter William Nicholls and first recorded by his short-lived project, White Horse – a collaboration between himself, Kenny Altman, and Jon Lind – and featured on the group's 1977 self-titled album.^[1][2]

"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)"
Song by White Horse
from the album White Horse
Released	1977
Genre	Pop rock soft rock
Length	3:35
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	William Nicholls

The following year, Leo Sayer featured a version on his self-titled album on the Chrysalis label. It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and was classified silver. In 2002, Phil Collins also covered the song, as "Can't Stop Loving You". His version reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3] For other versions of the song, see section below.

Release history

"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)"
Netherlands picture sleeve
Single by Leo Sayer
from the album Leo Sayer
B-side	"No Looking Back"
Released	23 June 1978
Genre	Pop rock soft rock country
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	William Nicholls
Producer(s)	Richard Perry
Leo Sayer singles chronology
"Thunder in My Heart" (1977) "I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)" (1978) "Raining in My Heart" (1978)

The Leo Sayer single was released in 1978 with "No Looking Back" as the b-side.

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4]	37
South Africa (Springbok)[5]	18
UK Singles Chart[6]	6

Personnel

• Leo Sayer – vocals
• Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano
• Steve Porcaro – synthesizers
• Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Leland Sklar – bass
• Russ Kunkel – drums
• Lenny Castro – congas
• David Campbell – string arrangements

Phil Collins version

"Can't Stop Loving You"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Testify
B-side	"High Flying Angel"
Released	28 October 2002
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop rock soft rock
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	William Nicholls
Producer(s)	Phil Collins Rob Cavallo
Phil Collins singles chronology
"In the Air Tonite" (2001) "Can't Stop Loving You" (2002) "Come with Me" (2003)
Music video
"Phil Collins - Can't Stop Loving You (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

"Can't Stop Loving You" was the lead single from English singer Phil Collins' solo album Testify, released in 2002. It also appears on Collins' 2004 album Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New. Although it received minor airplay, the song became Collins' eighth number-one Billboard adult contemporary hit.^[7] The song also reached the number ten on the Eurochart.

Collins originally recorded the song in 2000 for a love songs project, along with "The Least You Can Do", but both tracks were released on Testify instead.^[8] Collins' version has some minor changes in the lyrics and introduces a bridge after the second chorus.

Track listing

1. "Can't Stop Loving You" – 4:18
2. "High Flying Angel" (U.S. single and Japan Testify only) – 4:44

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2002–03) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 23 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 16 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 7 Czech Republic (IFPI)[12] 6 France (SNEP)[13] 3 Germany (GfK)[14] 11 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[15] 9 Hungary (Single Top 40)[16] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 39 Italy (FIMI)[18] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 3 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 48 Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)[22] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[25] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[26] 76 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[27] 1 Chart (2020) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[28] 94

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 98 Chart (2003) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[30] 97 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] 42 France (SNEP)[32] 40 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 32 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[35] 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 2

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[37]	Gold	25,000*
France (SNEP)[38]	Gold	250,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

• Phil Collins – vocals, drums, percussion
• Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
• Daryl Stuermer – lead guitar
• Tim Pierce – rhythm guitar
• Paul Bushnell – bass guitar

See also

• List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2002